Religion in Israel

Western Wall and Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem Religion in Israel is a central feature of the country and plays a major role in shaping Israeli culture and lifestyle, and Israel is the only country in the world where a majority of citizens are Jewish . According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics , the population in 2008 was 75.4% Jewish, 20.6% Arab, and 4% minority groups. The religious affiliation of the Israeli population as of 2005 was 76.2% Jewish, 16.1% Muslim , 2.1% Christian , and 1.6% Druze , with the remaining 4.0% not classified by religion. Israel has no entrenched constitution, but freedom of religion is anchored in law. Legal accommodation of the non-Jewish communities follows the pattern and practice of the Ottoman and British administrations with some important modifications. The religions officially recognized under Israeli law are: Jewish , Christian , Muslim , Druze and Baha'i . Within the Christian religion the following denominations are recognized: Greek Orthodox , Greek Catholic , Latin ( Roman Catholic ), Armenian Orthodox , Armenian Catholic , Maronite , Syrian Orthodox , Syrian Catholic , Chaldean (Catholic) and Evangelical Episcopal ( Anglican ). The fact that the Muslim population was not defined as a religious community is a vestige of the Ottoman era, when Islam was the dominant religion. The religious rights of the Muslim community are not affected by this, as even members of unrecognized religions are free to practice their religion. Statistical Abstract of Israel 2006 (No. 57) . Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs .

Religion in Israel (2016) Judaism ( Masorti , Dati and Haredi ) (41.0%) Secular Jews (40.0%) Islam (14.0%) Christianity (2.00%) Druzism (2.00%) Others and no religion (1.00%) Western Wall and Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem (Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem is internationally disputed ). Religion in Israel is a central feature of the country and plays a major role in shaping Israeli culture and lifestyle. The majority of Israeli citizens are Jews , but not all are religious. Many Israeli Jews are secular or atheistic . Some are hostile to all forms of religious beliefs and practices. One measure of Jewish religious observance in Israel is the proportion of Jewish Israelis that vote for religious parties to represent them in the Knesset . Roughly one third of Jewish Israelis vote for religious parties such as the Religious Zionists and the Haredi . Religion has played a central role in Israel's history. Israel is also the only country in the world where the majority of citizens is Jewish . According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics , the population in 2011 was 75.4% Jewish, 20.6% Arab, and 4.1% minority groups. The religious affiliation of the Israeli population as of 2019 was 74.2% Jewish, 17.8% Muslim , 2.0% Christian , and 1.6% Druze , with the remaining 4.4% including faiths such as Samaritanism and Baha'iism , and irreligious people with no faith. According to Pew research, Israel ranks fifth among the world's countries in the level of "social hostilities related to religious norms", and is sixth-highest in the level of "interreligious tension and violence". Israel does not have a constitution. While the Basic Laws of Israel that serve in place of a constitution define the country as a " Jewish state ", these Basic Laws, coupled with Knesset statutes, decisions of the Supreme Court of Israel , and various elements of the common law current in Israel, offer some protection for free practice of religion in the country. Pew Research Center has identified Israel as one of the countries that places "high" restrictions on religion, and there have been limits placed on non-Orthodox streams of Judaism. Legal accommodation of the non-Jewish communities follows the pattern and practice of the Ottoman and British administrations, with some important modifications. Israeli law officially recognizes five religions , all belonging to the Abrahamic family of religions : Judaism , Christianity , Islam , Druzeism , and the Bahá'í Faith . Furthermore, the law formally recognizes ten separate sects of Christianity: the Roman , Armenian , Maronite , Greek , Syriac , and Chaldean Catholic Churches ; the Eastern Orthodox Greek Orthodox Church ; the Oriental Orthodox Syriac Orthodox Church ; the Armenian Apostolic Church ; and Anglicanism . Relations among religious groups—between Jews and non-Jews, between Muslims and Christians, and among the different streams of Judaism, such as Orthodox, Reform and Conservative—are often strained. As of may 2011 estimate the population was 76.0 Jewish. Statistical Abstract of Israel 2006 (No. 57) . Israel Central Bureau of Statistics . 2006. The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs . There are <ref group=note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a template (see the help page ).

Overview of the presence, role and impact of religion in Israel Religion in Israel (2016) Judaism – Hiloni (33.1%) Judaism– Masorti (24.3%) Judaism– Dati (8.80%) Judaism– Haredi (7.30%) Islam (18.1%) Christianity (1.90%) Druze (1.60%) Others and unclassified (4.80%) Religion in Israel is manifested primarily in Judaism , the ethnic religion of the Jewish people . The State of Israel declares itself as a " Jewish and democratic state " and is the only country in the world with a Jewish-majority population (see Jewish state ). Other faiths in the country include Islam (predominantly Sunni ), Christianity (mostly Melkite and Orthodox ) and the religion of the Druze people . Religion plays a central role in national and civil life, and almost all Israeli citizens are automatically registered as members of the state's 14 official religious communities , which exercise control over several matters of personal status, especially marriage . The religious affiliation of the Israeli population as of 2022 was 73.6% Jewish, 18.1% Muslim , 1.9% Christian , and 1.6% Druze. The remaining 4.8% included faiths such as Samaritanism and Baháʼí, as well as "religiously unclassified". While Jewish Israelis are all technically under the jurisdiction of the state Orthodox rabbinate, personal attitudes vary immensely, from extreme Orthodoxy to irreligion and atheism . Jews in Israel mainly classify themselves along a fourfold axis, from least to most observant, hiloni ( lit. ' secular ' ); masorti ( lit. ' traditional ' ); dati ( lit. ' religious ' or ' orthodox ', including religious zionist ); and haredi ( lit. ' ultra-religious ' or 'ultra-orthodox'). Israeli law guarantees considerable privileges and freedom to practice for the recognized communities, but, in tandem, does not necessarily do so for other faiths. The Pew Research Center has identified Israel as one of the countries that place "high restrictions" on the free exercise of religion and there have been limits placed on non-Orthodox Jewish religious movements , which are unrecognized. Pew ranked Israel as fifth globally in terms of "inter-religious tension and violence". Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs . As of may 2011 estimate the population was 76.0 Jewish. Statistical Abstract of Israel 2006 (No. 57) . Israel Central Bureau of Statistics . 2006. Israeli Judaism: The Sociology of Religion in Israel . Studies of Israeli Society, 7 (Reprint ed.).

Religion in Israel (2016) Judaism – Hiloni (33.1%) Judaism– Masorti (24.3%) Judaism– Dati (8.80%) Judaism– Haredi (7.30%) Islam (18.1%) Christianity (1.90%) Druze (1.60%) Others and unclassified (4.80%) Religion in Israel is manifested primarily in Judaism , the ethnic religion of the Jewish people . The State of Israel declares itself as a " Jewish and democratic state " and is the only country in the world with a Jewish-majority population (see Jewish state ). Other faiths in the country include Islam (predominantly Sunni ), Christianity (mostly Melkite and Orthodox ) and the religion of the Druze people . Religion plays a central role in national and civil life, and almost all Israeli citizens are automatically registered as members of the state's 14 official religious communities , which exercise control over several matters of personal status, especially marriage . The religious affiliation of the Israeli population as of 2022 was 73.6% Jewish, 18.1% Muslim , 1.9% Christian , and 1.6% Druze. The remaining 4.8% included faiths such as Samaritanism and Baháʼí, as well as "religiously unclassified". While Jewish Israelis are all technically under the jurisdiction of the state Orthodox rabbinate, personal attitudes vary immensely, from extreme Orthodoxy to irreligion and atheism . Jews in Israel mainly classify themselves along a fourfold axis, from least to most observant, hiloni ( lit. ' secular ' ); masorti ( lit. ' traditional ' ); dati ( lit. ' religious ' or ' orthodox ', including religious zionist ); and haredi ( lit. ' ultra-religious ' or 'ultra-orthodox'). Israeli law guarantees considerable privileges and freedom to practice for the recognized communities, but, in tandem, does not necessarily do so for other faiths. The Pew Research Center has identified Israel as one of the countries that place "high restrictions" on the free exercise of religion and there have been limits placed on non-Orthodox Jewish religious movements , which are unrecognized. Pew ranked Israel as fifth globally in terms of "inter-religious tension and violence". Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs . As of may 2011 estimate the population was 76.0 Jewish. Statistical Abstract of Israel 2006 (No. 57) . Israel Central Bureau of Statistics . 2006. Israeli Judaism: The Sociology of Religion in Israel . Studies of Israeli Society, 7 (Reprint ed.).